Draco picked up the rock and tested the weight as he glanced over at Potter. Severus's orders had been clear but he didn't feel right as he held the rock. Potter was sitting with Granger as they looked at a book in the girl's hand. Weasley was nowhere to be seen and Draco was thankful for that. He nervously fiddled with the rock but he was just delaying. He swallowed back his trepidations and hurled the rock at Gryffindor.
Potter yelped as the rock hit him in the shoulder and quickly jumped to his feet. Granger looked around until her eyes locked on him while Draco stalked forward with a sneer on his lips. Potter focused on him with a glare.
"What's your problem!" Potter snapped.
"What are you talking about?" Draco defended.
"You threw a rock at me!"
"Ha!" Draco laughed and stepped closer. "And why would I do that!"
Potter's face flushed red in anger as he closed the distance while Draco held his ground. He hadn't realised how good an actor the other boy could be. There was rage on his face as he curled his hands into fists. Draco was concerned that Potter would throw a punch at him.
"Harry!" Granger squeaked. "You heard what McGonagall said!"
"I don't care," Potter growled. "The little ferret threw a rock at me!"
Draco sneered as he noticed Severus coming around the corner.
"And why would I do that?" Draco questioned with a smirk that he knew would push at Potter's temper.
Potter's jaw clenched as he pulled his wand.
"Harry!" Granger yelped and grabbed his wrist.
"What is going on here?" Severus drawled.
Potter froze as Granger swirled around while Snape looked the scene over. Potter's eyes didn't leave him as they blazed in rage.
"Potter pulled his wand on me," Draco whined and Potter's face flushed.
"Should have just cursed you!" Potter fummed and Draco was concerned that it was in real anger.
"Enough!" Severus growled and Potter glared at him. "Detention at six tonight with me."
"But Harry didn't do anything!" Granger defended.
Severus glared down his nose at the girl and she shrunk back. Interestingly, Potter stepped in front of her and met Severus's glare head on.
"Did you want to join him, Ms Granger?" Severus offered, sweetly.
"No," Potter answered for her.
Snape gave them both a look over before turning on his heels and stalked away. Draco gave the two Gryffindors a sneer before following after his godfather. That part of the plan had worked. He could feel Potter's eyes burning into his back and hopped that he didn't take it personally.
xXx
Draco looked at the clock for the third time and even Severus looked on edge.
"Is he normally late?" Draco questioned.
"No," Severus answered. "He has never been late for a detention. His classes, yes, but never for a detention."
Severus paced a few steps before looking at the clock.
"I'm going to check with the Headmaster," Severus told him. "If he turns up, keep him here."
"Yes, sir." Draco answered.
Severus stepped over to the fireplace and stepped through with a flare of floo powder. Draco didn't have to wait long before the potion master stepped back through. Draco tensed at the expression on his godfather's face.
"What?" Draco questioned.
"Albus left a message," Severus announced, looking pale. "He took Potter somewhere, he left a note to say that they will be back for the plan to go ahead. That Potter will have his cloak and wants him to be at the tower."
"He wants Harry to see his death?" Draco whispered, feeling faint.
Severus cursed and Draco looked at his godfather as he pulled a hand through his hair roughly. He could tell that he was agitated and on edge.
"That's cold," Draco added and Severus nodded.
"He must have a reason," Severus snarled in anger then dissolved into swearing.
"Did he say where he took Potter?" Draco asked, once Severus got a hold of himself.
"No," Severus snapped.
Draco felt concern run through him at that.
"We will have to proceed as planned," Severus stated.
"And take into account that Potter will be there," Draco added and shared a look with his godfather. "I know that you tried to keep him away from seeing this."
Severus blew out a breath.
"Not much we can do now," Severus conceded. "Albus has played his hand in this, we have no choice now. Potter will be a witness to his death."
xXx
Draco looked at Severus with large eyes, the image of that green light still before him. He felt numb and stuck to the spot as the breeze tugged at his hair and clothes. Severus turned away from the window. He could see the pain in his face and eyes before something caught the taller man's attention and he paled.
"Draco!" Severus snapped.
Potter appeared with a yell and Draco lunged forward and tackled him to the ground.
"No!" Potter yelled as he struggled.
"Quickly!" Severus hissed and appeared before him. "Potter, stop! We have to go, now!"
Potter looked up at them with large eyes and Draco felt fear run through him. Something was wrong with that look and his movements.
"Potter!" Draco hissed and those green eyes focused on him. "Come on."
Draco and Severus pulled him to his feet and Potter staggered into Severus. The taller man grabbed his shoulder tightly as he cursed.
"Potter!" Severus hissed. "Where is your cloak?"
"Over there," Potter said, his words slurred.
Draco quickly grabbed it and swung it around them before he pushed Potter back. He could feel his hot breaths on his back and the slight hitch. Potter wrapped an arm around his chest and pulled him closer as Bellatrix and three other Death Eaters appeared. Severus quickly turned and shifted his weight to cover their movements.
"You did it!" Bellatrix cried in glee.
"Yes," Severus drawled. "Now, go!"
"Not yet," Bellatrix cackled and drew her wand and pointed it at Severus. "We're not done yet!"
Draco tensed and felt a bolt of fear run through him. It was only Potter's arm around him holding him in place. Bellatrix then turned the wand to the open window.
"Morsmordre!" Bellatrix shrieked.
Green light burst from her wand and into the sky as the Dark Mark flew forward. Draco felt a shiver go down his back. He pressed further back into Potter and the man wrapped his other arm around him. Holding him in place as much as giving support. Their breaths sounded loud to Draco's ears and he feared that it would give them away. The green light bathed the room in an eerie glow, casting Severus's face into shadows.
"Draco," Potter whispered in his ear. "I think I'm going to pass out."
Draco glanced over his shoulder and noticed how pale Potter looked. He shifted as much as he could to support him. If Potter collapsed now, it would reveal them both.
"Just hold on," Draco uttered under his breath.
Potter nodded but he could tell that he was on the edge of passing out and he wasn't sure why. He glanced over to Severus as the other Death Eaters started to leave. He had to get his attention without alerting the others. He fumbled a piece of wood and flicked it towards the man. It landed with a clatter near Severus and he paused as Bellatrix turned back at the sound.
"Coming, Severus?" Bellatrix questioned.
"My place is here," Severus replied mildly.
"Draco," Potter whispered as he laid his head back.
"Just a little longer," Draco told him softly.
"Enjoy your castle then, Severus." Bellatrix cackled before running after the others.
Severus turned to them once he was sure they were gone. Draco held Potter to the wall as he felt the other boy's knees give out. Severus grabbed the cloth of the cloak and pulled it back. Severus paused briefly when he revealed them.
"Lay him down," Severus ordered quickly.
Draco grabbed one of Potter's arms as Severus grabbed the other. The other boy was out of it even if his eyes were open and they had him laid out on his back. Severus placed his fingers at his throat as Draco pushed his robe to the side then paused.
"Severus," Draco uttered and pointed out the blood on Potter's clothing.
"Where did Albus take him?" Severus muttered as he pushed Potter's shirt up and cursed. "Damn you, Albus."
There were scratch and bite marks on Potter's pale skin as he struggled to draw in breath. Severus grabbed the boy's chin and turned his head towards them. Draco shuttered at the blank look in his eyes.
"Potter!" Severus snapped. "Focus!"
If Potter heard him, he didn't react and Draco felt his stomach drop.
"Harry," Draco uttered.
Severus pulled his wand and carefully looked into Potter's blank eyes.
"Legilimens," Severus intoned softly. "Bring forward what happened, Potter."
Potter groaned but didn't look away, Severus pulled back quickly before he slipped his potion pouch from his robes. Potter screwed his eyes shut.
"Get his shirt off," Severus ordered as he quickly unbuckled Potter's belt.
Draco did as he was ordered and they quickly stripped him down to his underwear. Revealing the full extent of the scratch and bite marks on his pale skin.
"Hold him," Severus told him as he uncapped a potion. "Tightly."
Draco grabbed Potter's arms as Severus pulled his wand and uttered a spell before tipping the potion in his hand onto Potter's bare chest and down his body. It sizzled as it hit and spread out across his exposed skin. Potter yelled out and struggled against his hold. Severus quickly dropped the vial and grabbed his legs to hold him still as he screamed. The sound went right through Draco while Severus cringed. Potter then slumped as his screams cut off as the potion was fully absorbed into his skin.
"Someone would have heard that," Draco commented. "What are we going to do?"
Potter groaned before blinking his eyes open. There was a glazed look to his eyes and Draco wasn't sure if he was aware of what was going on around him.
"Run, Draco." Severus told him as Potter looked up at them in confusion. "For they will be after Potter's blood."
xXx
Draco glanced over to Potter, curled up in the sleeping bag, while he sat close by in the small tent. The images of the rush from the castle still fresh in his mind. Potter following after them like a puppy as the potion still worked in his system. They'd used as many secret passages that they could to stay out of sight. The cries of Dumbledore's death whispering through to them and the confusion on Potter's face, haunting him. Severus had shoved two bags at him and a way to contact him before passing him a portkey. The disarray of the Shrieking Shack the last image of Hogwarts he had before they were whisked away.
Draco sighed and made his way over to the sleeping bag and gently nudged Potter over and curled along his back. They only had the one but it was large enough for both of them as he placed an arm over Potter's chest and took in the sounds of his soft breathing. So much had happened so quickly and Draco's mind was still trying to process it as he slipped into exhausted sleep.
Draco woke slowly the next morning to the soft sounds of birds and Potter's arm over him. He shifted back slightly as he glanced over his shoulder but the other boy was still out. Severus had warned him that he would sleep for a while and when he woke that he had to take a potion to flush out the rest of the poison. Draco just took in the feel of the arm over him and the warmth of the body behind him as he relaxed back. He had no idea what his life held now, but he had played his cards. Done what needed to be done and put his trust in Severus.
"What happened?" Potter whispered behind him.
"A lot," Draco replied and Potter's arm shifted slightly but he didn't remove it. "What do you remember?"
"Snape killed Dumbledore," Potter uttered and tightened his hold briefly. "Was that the plan?"
"Yes," Draco answered and shifted his legs.
Potter didn't release him as he captured one of his legs with his own and they settled back into the sleeping bag.
"Then what happened?" Potter pressed. "I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything kept slipping away."
Draco's gut clenched at those words.
"You were poisoned," Draco told him. "You have to take another potion for that."
"Oh," Potter muttered and Draco could tell that he was slipping back to sleep. "Later?'
"Yes," Draco replied. "Just sleep."
"You going?" Potter questioned and clenched his arm around him.
"I'm not going anywhere," Draco said then amended it, "except to pee."
Potter snorted on the back of his neck and Draco shivered at the feeling. Soon, deep breathing filled the silence and Draco just listened to that and the birds. They were free for now but he wasn't sure how long that would last.
xXx
Draco looked out at the rain from the shelter at the front of the tent and sighed. Severus had told him to head north from where the portkey spat them out and they would find a cabin that they could use for a while. With the rain, Draco was reluctant to go anywhere. Severus had packed a few changes of clothes and food but neither one would last long.
"That looks like it's set in," Potter remarked from behind him.
"Yes," Draco agreed and glanced at him. "You still look like crap."
Potter quirked a smile but Draco hadn't been lying. The other boy looked pale with dark smudges under his eyes and had a few beads of sweat on his brow. His eyes were dull and Draco knew that he was still a little confused from the lingering effects of the poison, not that Potter would show that weakness.
"Severus said that there is a cabin to the north," Draco told him as Potter settled next to him on the ground in the slight shelter that the tent flap gave them.
"We just have to face the monsoon to get to it," Potter added as his shoulder brushed Draco's.
"We have enough food to last about three days," Draco said with a sigh.
"So, the rain will last four," Potter commented with that lopsided smile of his.
Draco chuckled and looked at him in amusement. Potter laid a hand on his leg and Draco didn't look too far into that. Potter leaned into him and rubbed his eyes with his other hand.
"How do you feel?" Draco questioned in concern.
"A bit sick," Potter replied. "And hot."
Draco bit back on what he wanted to say to that, he could feel the heat from the other boy. He wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Potter tensed before relaxing.
"What are we doing?" Potter uttered, defeat in his voice.
"Surviving," Draco answered. "While others work out plans."
"We just sit this out?"
"No, Potter."
"Harry," Potter stated. "My name is Harry."
Draco snorted and glanced at him and Potter gave him a smile.
"I am aware of that," Draco drawled and Potter snorted.
They sat there for a while just watching the rain as it fell softly around them. Each absorbed in their own thoughts. Both of their lives now changed forever.
